Club World Cup 2025: FIFA winning football fans’ hearts

The 2025 Club World Cup entered the quarter-final stages on Friday night (depending on what part of the world you live in).

For a tournament that severely lacked buzz and anticipation, fans and pundits have warmed up slowly to it.

What has also helped is the elimination of a few top teams.

The Round of 16 absolutely rocked the football world,” Nwosu Michael Izuchukwu, a podcaster and digital marketer, tells DAILY POST.

“A lot of pundits and football creatives thought it was going to be straightforward and easy to call those games but it sure wasn’t.

“The planning and execution can definitely be better, but from a pure footballing standpoint, the competition has delivered all the feels.”

Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal sent Manchester City packing in a thrilling 4-3 win, while Fluminense outclassed Champions League finalists, Inter Milan.

Both games were in the Round of 16.

“We all thought 350 million would fix Pep’s Man City but boy, were we wrong,” Nwachukwu said.

Inter Milan who were praised for their discipline and energy levels in their run to the Champions League final couldn’t keep up with the intensity from that Fluminense side.

“Benfica beating Bayern in the group stages was surprising and that Flamengo win against Chelsea left a sour taste in my mouth.”

The first quarter-final clash between Fluminense and Al-Hilal felt like a win for FIFA, who has defended the competitiveness of the teams selected for this expanded version.